Project coordinator: Kit McMahon. Contact details: kMcMahon@whise.org.au

Project contact: Dr Rachel Bush. Contact details: rbush@whise.org.au
Project contact: Kit McMahon. Contact details: kMcMahon@whise.org.au
What is the purpose of this research?

Your participation in this project is important because we want to find out experiences and perpetration (or commitment) of workplace sexual harassment and gender-based violence in Victorian private and public Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). There is little understanding of the extent of experiences and commitment of sexual harassment and gender-based violence in these settings and previous research has not included experiences of students who are engaged in worksite training.

The findings from this survey will contribute to the knowledge-base and provide understanding of the training programs and procedures that are needed in RTOs to protect staff and students.

This project is supported by WorkSafe WorkWell Respect fund.

What does my participation involve?

Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. Please note that you are required to be aged 18 years or over.

Participation will involve completing this online survey which will take approximately 10 minutes. The survey includes questions that will ask about experiencing or committing workplace sexual harassment and other gender-based violence which will include bullying, discrimination, and violence and aggression. The survey will also ask questions about intention to leave (staff/student turnover), and absenteeism and presenteeism. Absenteeism is a pattern of absence from work or training and is generally unplanned whereas presenteeism means that you are physically at work or training but are not able to perform your duties.

Your decision to participate is entirely voluntary and will not impact on your relationship with the investigators, Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE), Women’s Health Goulburn North East (WHGNE), Women’s Health East (WHE), The Men’s Project (an initiative of Jesuit Social Services), the Victorian TAFE Association (VTA), the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), or your RTO.

If you decide to take part in this research, you will be asked to indicate your consent at the end of this page. Participation in this research is voluntary. If you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to.

Please be aware that once you have submitted your responses, you will not be able to edit or delete them as all responses are completely anonymous and not identifiable.

Potential risks and benefits

While there are no direct benefits for you as an individual by participating in this project, the findings will help us better understand sexual harassment and gender-based violence within Victorian RTOs. This knowledge will be used to enhance programs aimed at preventing sexual harassment and gender-based violence, helping to create a safer, zero-tolerance environment for everyone in Victorian RTOs.

Please note that participating in this project might involve some risks. Some of the questions included in this survey may be sensitive and certain themes might cause an emotional or psychological response. See below for a list of organisations and services you can contact if you require support.

To make sure this project meets ethical standards and reduces risk, we followed the guidelines set by the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023). This ensures your rights and wellbeing are protected throughout your participation.

Who’s conducting this research?

This project is led by WHISE in collaboration with WHGNE, WHE, The Men’s Project (an initiative of Jesuit Social Services), VTA, and ITECA.
Confidentiality

This survey is anonymous and confidential. No personally identifying data will be collected, and only aggregate responses will be reported. You can read about WHISE’s Privacy Policy and Survey Monkey’s Privacy Notice for more information.

Note that although WHISE will not be collecting or recording your IP address alongside your survey response, Survey Monkey “records respondent IP addresses in backend logs and deletes them after 13 months.”

Once the survey has closed, the data will be downloaded onto secure internal servers at Women’s Health in the South East, in password protected files. The data will then be deleted from Survey Monkey.

The data will reside with the Principal Investigator, Dr Rachel Bush, and only be accessible by the research team. All data will be stored permanently as it will have community and historical value. Therefore, the data will not be destroyed.

Disclosure of gender-based violence

We understand that participating in this survey may involve disclosing experiences of gender-based violence. We recognise how challenging it can be to share this information. Please know that any disclosures will not lead to action by the investigators. All responses are completely anonymous, and it is important to us that you retain control over your own reporting. Below, you will find contact information for support services that can provide further assistance.

Ethics inquiries

If you have any complaints about any aspect of this research, the way it is being conducted or any questions about your rights as a research participant, then you may contact Bellberry Limited, 123 Glen Osmond Road, Eastwood, South Australia 5063. Telephone: 08 8361 3222. Email: bellberry@bellberry.com.au (Ref: 2024-02-147).

Complaints of unfair treatment or discrimination

Students

If you feel that you have been treated unfairly or discriminated against because of your gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or age, you can lodge a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints
1300 656 419 or (02) 9284 98888

Staff

If you are an employee of a training provider and are experiencing bullying, you can contact the Fair Work Commission.

fairworkhelp.com.au
1300 799 675
Support

The content of this survey may prompt you to recall trauma that was experienced from potential sexual harassment or workplace gender-based violence. If you become upset or distressed as a result of any questions in this survey, we recommend contacting one of the supports below:

1. Support for sexual assault and gender-based violence

Safe Steps – Family Violence Response Centre
safesteps.org.au
1800 015 188 (24 hours)
safesteps@safesteps.org.au
Web chat available (Mon-Fri, 9am-midnight)

1800 RESPECT – National 24hr counselling, helpline, information and support
1800respect.org.au
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) (24 hours)
Web chat available (24 hours)

Victoria Police
Many forms of sexual harassment in the workplace also constitute sexual offences under criminal law.
For more information about the process of reporting a sexual offence or sexual assault, please refer to the ‘Reporting sexual offences to police’ guide available on the Victoria Police website: police.vic.gov.au/resources-and-fact-sheets- 0#reporting-sexual-offences-booklet

The Orange Door – Local support and safety hub for women, children, young people and families
orangedoor.vic.gov.au
1800 319 353 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
bpa@orangedoor.vic.gov.au

Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA) – confidential support and intervention for women, children and men who are victim-survivors of sexual assault and who have experienced or been affected by sexual harassment
casa.org.au
1800 806 292 (24 hours)
casa@thewomens.org.au

Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) – advice on services available in cases of sexual assault (emergency healthcare, protection services, police complaints processes)
sacl.com.au
1800 806 292 (24 hours) – diverts to local CASA services during standard business hours
(03) 8345 3494 (Police/emergency contact line)
SACLFeedback@thewomens.org.au

Rainbow Door – Specialist helpline for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family
rainbowdoor.org.au
1800 729 367 | SMS 0480 017 246 (10am-5pm daily)
support@rainbowdoor.org.au

Djirra – Aboriginal family violence prevention and legal services
djirra.org.au
9244 3333
info@djirra.org.au

InTouch – Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
intouch.org.au
1800 755 988
admin@intouch.org.au

Daisy app
Support services in your local area

Sunny app
For women with disability who have experience violence and abuse

2. Psychological and general support

Beyond Blue – free information and support to help people work through mental health issues and achieve their best possible mental health
beyondblue.org.au
1300 224 636 (24 hours)

No to Violence – Men’s Referral Service
ntv.org.au
1300 766 491

Mensline - A national phone and online support service for men that includes video counselling
mensline.org.au
1300 789 978
Switchboard – provides peer-driven support services for LGBTIQ people, their families, allies and communities
switchboard.org.au
qlife.org.au/resources/chat
1800 184 527

WIRE: Women’s Support Line – free support, referral and information for all Victorian women, nonbinary and gender-diverse people. ‘Any woman. Any issue.’
wire.org.au
1300 134 130 Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
inforequests@wire.org.au

3. Health and safety supports

WorkSafe – Victoria’s health and safety regulator and the manager of Victoria’s workers compensation scheme. WorkSafe considers work-related gendered violence and sexual harassment to be serious work health and safety issues
worksafe.vic.gov.au
Advisory service phone: 1800 136 089 Mon–Fri 7.30am–6.30pm

4. Employment supports

Fair Work Commission (FWC) – Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal with power and functions to deal with anti-bullying issues upon formal lodgement of an application
fwc.gov.au
1300 799 675 (not for legal advice) Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Workplace Advice Service: fwc.gov.au/resources/where-get-legal-advice/ workplace-advice-service
Online lodgement service: fwc.gov.au/disputes-at-work/how-the-commission-works/lodge-an-application

Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) - an independent statutory office that provides free services to all workers and employers in Australia
fairwork.gov.au
13 13 14 Mon–Fri 8am–5.30pm
fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/get-help

Funding

This project is supported by WorkSafe’s WorkWell Respect Fund.

Project results

If you would you like to receive a copy of the report when the project is complete, please complete the form at the bottom of the project's website.
Further information

For further information about this study, please contact the Principal Investigator, Dr Rachel Bush rbush@whise.org.au.

Alternatively, please visit the study website or read the FAQs.

You can download a copy of this Plain Language Statement here.

Consent

Question Title

* 1. I have read and I understand this information and what is being asked of me, and freely agree to complete this survey.

I understand that completing this survey may not directly benefit me.

I have read and agree to WHISE’s Privacy Policy.

I have read and agree to Survey Monkey’s Privacy Notice.

T